2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke

Ford F-150 is delivering another first – its all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke® diesel engine targeted to return an EPA-estimated rating of 30 mpg highway

Ford F-150 is delivering another first – its all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke® diesel engine targeted to return an EPA-estimated rating of 30 mpg highway (James Lipman)

MALCOLM GUNN

Truck buyers are fiercely loyal to their brands, which explains why the Ford F-150 has remained the most popular pickup for decades.

Giving buyers exactly what they need, from basic fleet models to all-out luxury versions for up to six pampered passengers, is what helps keeps Ford at the pinnacle of the pickup world.

In mid-2018, a turbo-diesel engine was added to a lineup that already included five gasoline-engine choices (all but two turbocharged) that delivers fuel efficiency along with plenty of towing and hauling grunt.

The new 3.0-liter V-6 is marketed by Ford under the Power Stroke brand, a name also applied to the more powerful V-8 turbo-diesel that can be specified in the F-series Super Duty trucks.

Although Ford’s powertrain engineers worked on the development of both diesels, European automaker PSA also had a hand in the new V-6.

The result of their combined efforts is a powerplant that produces 250 horsepower and, most importantly, 440 pound-feet of torque. It peaks at a low 1,750 rpm, which is especially important for towing and hauling heavy loads. The turbo-diesel can pull up to 11,400 pounds or can accept a maximum 2,020 pounds in the cargo bed.

The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with settings for Tow/Haul, Snow/Wet, EcoSelect (maximizes fuel economy), and, perhaps weirdly, Sport (holds the shift points at higher rpms for more spirited driving).

Along with plenty of grunt, the Power Stroke’s fuel economy in the rear-wheel-drive F-150 is rated at 22 mpg in city driving, 30 mpg on the highway (25 mpg combined).

In any case, the numbers blow away the gasoline-engine choices by a wide margin, particularly on the highway. The four-wheel-drive option drops the city/highway mpg to 20/25 and the combined rating to 22. The auto stop/start program (which automatically turns the engine off and then back on after a stop) no doubt aids in some fuel conservation.

And the competitors? FCA plans to introduce its latest diesel Ram in 2019, while similar versions of General Motors’ Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups will arrive later this year. How they will stack up against the Ford is anyone’s guess at this point, but expect a close race.

The Power Stroke option will limit you to extended-length SuperCabs fitted with 6.5-foot beds or four-door SuperCrew models with either the 5.5- or 6.5-foot-long beds.

The Power Stroke option is also limited to Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels, which means that, except for fleet customers, the engine isn’t available with the more basic XL and XLT trims.

Ordering a Power Stroke Lariat will cost you $46,500, including destination charges. That’s about $4,000 more than the standard 2.7-liter-twin-turbocharged-V-6-gasoline-engine model, which has 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet.

Included with the Lariat SuperCab are leather-trimmed seats (power-operated in front), dual-zone climate control, an eight-inch touchscreen and a power-locking tailgate.

The King Ranch SuperCrew rings in at $56,400 and includes voice-activated navigation, premium audio, heated-and-ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power-sliding rear window and 20-inch wheels (18-inchers are standard).

The range-topping F-150 Platinum with the Power Stroke turbo-diesel will set you back $59,000, but it comes with body-colored bumpers and wheel-lip moldings, 22-inch wheels and power running boards.

Buyers of the Ford F-150 Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum Power Stroke models are likely to be hitching their pickups to mega-size travel trailers and equally large watercraft, but entrepreneurial types such as farmers, ranchers and builders are also in that mix.

Considering the Power Stroke’s capabilities and thrifty nature, they likely won’t be disappointed.

What you should know: 2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke

Type: Four-door, rear- / four-wheel-drive pickup

Engine (h.p.): 3.0-liter DOHC V-6, turbo-diesel (250)

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Market position: Ford finally makes a diesel move in the light-duty-pickup category. The new Power Stroke will go against similar new models from Ram, Chevrolet, GMC and the existing Nissan Titan.

Points: A first for Ford in this category. • Available to the public in upper trim levels only, for now. • Highway fuel economy beats the previous best from the Ram diesel. • The Power Stroke is an expensive option that will most likely appeal to commercial operators who log plenty of miles. • How, exactly, will FCA and GM respond?